HUNTING - SANDHILL CRANE

[Published 10/12/07 in the PORT ISABEL/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND PRESS and the SAN BENITO NEWS]

FLIGHT OF THE SANDHILL
By Jim Foster

One the sure signs of fall are the lonesome and wild call of the sandhill crane on its way South to winter in the southern states.

The sandhill crane family - Grus Canadensis – and the huntable subspecies - Grus canadensis canadensis (Lesser Sandhill) and Grus canadensis tabida (Greater Sandhill).

The Sandhill Crane is a tall gray bird of open grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. It congregates in huge numbers during migration and has become a regular visitor to the grain fields of Texas and a common sight to hunters with their distinctive call.

The sandhill crane is a very large bird sporting a long neck, long legs, a gray body that may be stained a reddish color, a red forehead with white cheeks, and tufted feathers over its rump. Both sexes look alike, male slightly larger.

The sandhill crane is one of the few crane species in the world that is still common. The Mississippi and Cuban populations now considered endangered.

One of the reasons the sandhill has had problems in parts of the world is that sandhill will not breed until they are two to seven years old. They can live up to the age of twenty and mated pairs stay together year round, migrating south as a group with their offspring.

It must be mentioned that the very rare Whooping Crane is white overall with black primaries and a different head pattern. These cranes are the reason for the areas closed to hunting in Texas. However, it would take a hunter who is just “shooting” not looking to mistake a whooper for a sandhill. The rule is, IF YOU’RE NOT SURE – DON’T SHOOT.

Hunting the sandhill is quite similar to goose hunting and is accomplished over a large decoy spread. Some hunters will use a combination of a few solid body decoys and the rest will be dark rags fashioned like a white-spread for geese.

Here are the Texas hunting zones and bag limits. It’s a good idea to check the current hunting regulations before starting your hunt.

Zone A -- November 3-February 3 - Daily Bag Limit: 3 - Possession limit of 6.
In Zone B -- November 23-February 3, The Daily Bag Limit is: 3 with a possession limit of 6.
Zone C -- December 22-January 27 / has a daily Bag Limit: 2 with a possession limit of 4. Most of South Texas counties are in Zone C.

ZONE C CLOSED AREA DESCRIPTION: Everything to the Gulf of Mexico from a line beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces county line and the Gulf of Mexico, west along the county line to Park Road 22, to State Hwy. 358, to State Hwy. 286, north to IH 37, east to U.S. Hwy. 181, north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77 at Sinton, north and east along U.S. Hwy. 77 to U.S. Hwy. 87 at Victoria, east and south along U.S. Hwy. 87 to State Hwy. 35, north and east along State Hwy. 35 to the south end of Lavaca Bay Causeway, south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, south and east along the Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com